Chapter 428: Encounter
"Oh! Isn’t that our favorite couple of the moment?" Elreth said as soon as she saw the couple. Although they had disguised themselves, the quality was poor, so those who knew them could easily recognize them.
Khione’s naturally cold face turned a bit colder, almost affecting the surrounding temperature, but Nero squeezed her hand and managed to calm her down.
"Greetings, Khione and Nero. I hope you’ve been well," Azalea said, wearing her trademark smile, as if trying to diffuse the volatile atmosphere.
"I’m fine," Khione responded curtly, while Nero simply nodded.
"Nero, can we talk later?" Elreth suddenly declared. Nero’s response was immediate.
"I refuse."
"Come on. I want to discuss something important with you. You won’t be disappointed." She wasn’t about to give up, so she insisted, but his response was firm. He wasn’t an idiot; accepting her proposal would obviously displease his girlfriend.
"Still, no."
"You’re no fun. See you later. I heard you created a club. Can we join?"
"Feel free to try, but I’m not sure if places are still available."
Elreth rolled her eyes at Nero’s response, while Azalea covered her mouth to let a chuckle slip.
After the brief episode, they went their separate ways.
"I thought she went and died somewhere," Khione said after a moment of silence. Nero didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"Don’t worry. Nothing will happen." He squeezed her hand to reassure her.
Khione dragged him toward a theme park cafe that cadets from A class had created. The disguised couple enjoyed themselves.
°°°
The cafe stood at the edge of the festival grounds, its entrance framed by two tall poles strung with paper lanterns. A hand-painted sign read "The Enchanted Cup" in looping letters, with smaller text underneath boasting "100% Cadet-Run – A Class Project." A line had formed outside, couples and groups of friends chatting while they waited. Nero and Khione joined the queue, still wearing their simple disguises—cloth masks and caps that did little to hide them but made them feel anonymous.
The wait was not long. A student dressed as a fairy waved them inside, her wings glittering with cheap sequins. The interior was transformed. Tables were draped in velvet cloths, each one holding a small candle that flickered with harmless magic. The walls were painted with murals of enchanted forests, unicorns, floating castles. Soft music played from hidden speakers—strings and flute, gentle and sweet. The air smelled of fresh coffee, chocolate, and something floral.
A server led them to a small table near the window, overlooking the festival square. The menu was handwritten on parchment-like paper, the items named with whimsy: "Dragon’s Breath Cocoa," "Fairy Kiss Macarons," "Wizard’s Breakfast Sandwich." Nero scanned the offerings, amused. Khione studied her menu with her usual intensity, as if choosing a spell rather than a snack.
"What are you getting?" he asked.
"Hot chocolate. And the macarons."
"Same."
They ordered, and the server disappeared into a back room painted to look like a magical grove. While they waited, Nero watched the people passing outside—cadets laughing, children running, vendors calling out. The festival felt endless, a world within a world. He was grateful for this small bubble, this moment of ordinary happiness.
The drinks arrived in mismatched cups, each one different from the next. Nero’s cup had a painted dragon; Khione’s had a crescent moon. The hot chocolate was thick and rich, topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. The macarons were pastel-colored, delicate, filled with ganache that melted on the tongue.
They ate slowly, savoring each bite. The conversation around them was low and warm—other couples sharing stories, friends laughing at inside jokes. Nero did not try to make grand declarations. Khione did not freeze the atmosphere. They simply existed together, enjoying the quiet pleasure of good food and better company.
A magician, another A-class cadet, moved between tables, performing small tricks. He stopped at theirs, produced a coin from behind Nero’s ear, then made it vanish from inside Khione’s cup. She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, but the corner of her lips twitched. Nero tipped the magician with a handful of festival tokens.
The afternoon light shifted, the sun moving behind a cloud, casting the room in soft shadow. The candles flickered brighter, their flames unaffected by the lack of wind. Khione reached across the table and took Nero’s hand. Her fingers were warm from the cup, a rare warmth.
"Thank you," she said.
"For what?"
"For this. For today. For not letting them ruin it."
Nero squeezed her hand. "They didn’t ruin anything. We’re here. That’s what matters."
They finished their macarons and drank the last of their chocolate. The cafe grew busier, the line outside longer. Nero paid with a wave of his phone, the credits transferring seamlessly. They rose, pushed in their chairs, and walked toward the exit.
The fairy server at the door handed them each a small paper flower as they left. "For luck," she said, smiling.
Khione tucked hers into her pocket. Nero put his behind his ear. They stepped back into the festival, the noise and color washing over them. The afternoon was still young. There were more booths to visit, more games to play, more moments to make.
But for now, the cafe had given them exactly what they needed—a quiet pause, a shared meal, a memory tucked away like the paper flowers. The second day of the festival continued, and they walked into it hand in hand, lost in the moment.
In the meantime, in another location, Elreth and Azalea were walking around, simply enjoying the scenery. They did not stop at any stall or shop.
In the silence, Azalea was the first to speak.
"Why did you react like that? I thought you had matured and would do things differently now."
Elreth flinched. Her eyes darted left and right for a moment before she let out a sigh.
"Ah... I couldn’t stop myself. Seeing them looking so perfect, so good together... I felt jealous," she admitted.
Azalea chuckled.
"I see. It’s good that they truly look good together. That’s why it would be fun to break them apart, fufufu. Don’t you think so?"
Elreth once again thought this elven princess was truly dangerous.
"You are really sick, you know?"
"Thank you for the compliment," an unfazed Azalea responded, as she was soon lost in thought.
Glancing at her friend’s side profile, Elreth thought she was truly beautiful—possessing prestige, strength, and beauty. But at her core, she was truly rotten. She pitied the man who would marry her.
The princess vowed not to let Nero get stolen. Although they appeared friendly and all, it was a smokescreen; each had their own agenda. They appeared together because previously they had been training together. Nero’s absurd progression had put them under pressure, so each was focused on their own progress, not wanting to fall too far behind.
